Fastmail vs AOL Mail
Fastmail wins on privacy, AOL Mail wins on price and Fastmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Fastmail or AOL Mail: which should you choose?
- Fastmail is the better pick if you want your email to stay in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups; a company that isn't funded by advertising; and an address on your own domain.
- Go for AOL Mail if you'd like email without paying for it; to try it free first; and a provider that's been going since 1993.
| Feature | Fastmail | AOL Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Individual $5 a month, yearly | Free Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Storage | 50 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Australia | United States |
| Your data is kept in | EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups | United States |
| Founded | 1999 | 1993 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Masked email and aliases | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer 10% off your first year, plus a free trial of up to 30 days | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- On price: Fastmail Individual at $5 a month, yearly, against AOL Mail Free at Free.
- Fastmail has no free plan; AOL Mail has a free plan ().
- Space: Fastmail gives 50 GB of storage, AOL Mail storage not confirmed.
- Data location: EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups for Fastmail, United States for AOL Mail.
- The companies sit under different laws: Fastmail in Australia, AOL Mail in United States.
- You can use your own domain with Fastmail, but not with AOL Mail.
- AOL Mail (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Fastmail doesn't.
- Aliases: Fastmail offers masked email and aliases, AOL Mail yes.
Fastmail and AOL Mail: your questions
Is Fastmail more private than AOL Mail?
Fastmail scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and AOL Mail 0. Fastmail gives you your email to stay in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is Fastmail cheaper than AOL Mail?
AOL Mail costs nothing to start (Free). Fastmail's cheapest plan, Individual, is $5 a month, yearly.
Can I use my own domain with Fastmail or AOL Mail?
Only Fastmail does (Yes). With AOL Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Fastmail and AOL Mail?
Fastmail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups. AOL Mail keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Fastmail news · AOL Mail news.
Alternatives to Fastmail and AOL Mail
Fastmail vs mailbox.org · AOL Mail vs mailbox.org · Fastmail vs Posteo · AOL Mail vs Posteo · Fastmail vs Proton Mail · AOL Mail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Fastmail · Moving from Fastmail. Or see all my switching guides.